What the Beck?: September 2016

Thursday, September 29, 2016

What the Beck???

Recipe Review NOT A PIONEER WOMAN RECIPE

Today’s Recipe and Location: Tex-Mex Fiesta Bake Recipe

Found in: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2015/03/tex-mex-fiesta-bake-recipe.html

I figured out that there are 405 calories, if 15 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

I love any type of Tex-Mex dip and this one was wonderful. I found it on Pinterest, and I made and took this to my niece, Alaina’s house for a party she named "Erdfest." I always try out new food on my family. According to my brother-in-law, this one is a keeper. All of the people at the table agreed with Rick, so I felt good about this one. Try it!

Here are the ingredients that I used to create this recipe

I began by browning the onion and ground beef.

I used a disposable pan, so I didn't have to

worry about bringing it home.

I covered the bottom of the pan with refried beans.

I put the salted and peppered meat mixture atop the beans.

I poured 1/2 cup taco sauce over the meat mixture.

A can of green chiles were sprinkled across the top.

I evenly distributed the cheddar cheese

and then the Monterey Jack.

Now, I added on the remainder of the taco sauce.

That is all there is to it. In the oven it went.

I did cut up some garnishes for the top (see below),

and then served it all with chips.

Sorry, no photo of the final product since I was

at the party when I added the ending elements.

I added chopped red and green peppers to the top after baking.

As well as sour cream...

and my favorite......black olives.

Easy to make ahead.......

great to eat!!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

What the Beck???

Happy Birthday tomorrow Diane!!!

Bucket List Update

Academy Award Nominated Movies

1999 The Green Mile

starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell

plot – A man is on death row for the murder of rape two children. This is filmed from the point of view of the prison guards who were in charge of death row.

I TRULY LOVED THIS MOVIE!!! A man is on death row for a crime he did not commit. The injustice really bothered me, but the inmate touched my heart. The movie was well written and extremely well acted. I just truly love Tom Hanks.

2001 Gosford Park

starring: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Camilla Rutherford, Charles Danoe

plot – Someone has been murdered at a country house in England. This story shows the guests and servants at the party in 1932 when the murder occurred.

This movie was no Downton Abbey, that’s for sure. It began very slowly, and it wasn’t until the last half hour that the story drew me in.

2008 Slumdog Millionaire

starring: Dev Patel, Saurabh Shukla, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan

plot – A young man is on the Mumbai version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” As he plays the game, he has flashbacks to his horrible childhood in the violent slums.

I was really bothered by the slums in Mumbia, and watching how the children were sent out to beg for money on the street. It is such a violent existence. India is one place that I have no desire to visit.

2008 Milk

starring: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco

plot – Harvey Milk (Penn) openly fights for gay rights when coming out was still new to our society. He was California’s first openly gay elected official (Board of Supervisors.

This was a pretty intense movie. It was hard to watch the way people treated each other. I truly believe that we need to accept our differences, and find a common ground for friendship.

2009 District 9

starring: Sharito Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike

plot – This was a thriller set 30 years ago. Aliens had landed here because their planet was destroyed. They moved into District 9 which was in South America. Their government wants our technology.

I am not a Sci Fi lover, and this movie bored the heck out of me. I hated the concepts and the “critters.”

2010 The Kids are all Right

starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska

plot – Two teens find their biological father and want him in their lives. Their two lesbian Moms didn’t know about the kid’s plan.

This was a pretty good movie, but I would only watch it once.

2012 Argo

starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan

plot – The CIA has a mission to rescue American hostages in Iran in 1980.

I was really surprised how much I liked this movie. It was interesting to see how they were going to fool the Iranians to get the captives out of the country.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

What the Beck???

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!

Recipe Review NOT A PIONEER WOMAN RECIPE!!

Today’s Recipe and Location: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Found in: http://damndelicious.net/2016/01/03/chicken-bacon-ranch-casserole/

I figured out that there are 415 calories, if 8 servings are made or 368 calories of 9 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this casserole. I was looking through Pinterest and found this recipe. It called to me. It is creamy and so flippin’ good. I do love a great Alfredo sauce and the chicken, bacon, and ranch make this one great. How can any recipe go wrong when it includes three cheeses?

These are the ingredients that I used to create this recipe

I began by melting the butter

I made the alfredo sauce with butter, garlic, heavy

cream, and Parmesan cheese. Quite fabulous!!

Just set it aside now.

In order to season the meat, I cut it into chunks,

and put it in a Zip-Loc bag.

I added in the olive oil

and the Ranch seasoning and Salad dressing mix

I mushed the bag around to coat the chicken.

Is mushed a word? Mush has to do with dogs - not chickens,

or some kind of oatmeal like stuff, I think. Oh well....

Time to fry up the chicken!

Cook thoroughly on one side, and

try to flip it only once so it is all cooked.

The pasta was a cookin'

The sauce was ready to go.

Chicken's done!

This will be a layered casserole.

First, in went the pasta.

Then the chicken was put on next.

Yum! Yum! On went the Alfredo sauce.

The bacon was sprinkled on now.

and the cheddar cheese

and mozzarella cheese.

Fresh out of the oven. I so, want a bite right now!

The final ingredient was to add fresh parsley from my deck

I was thrilled that it made so many servings.

In the freezer they went.

Heavenly delight!!!

Friday, September 23, 2016

What the Beck???

Recipe Review

Today’s Recipe and Location: Best Green Beans Ever

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/the-best-green-beans-ever-recipe.html

I figured out that there are 80 calories, if 6 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

I liked these beans a lot. In order for me to call them the best green beans ever, I would want to add chopped up pieces of bacon and maybe half the bacon grease.

These are the ingredients that I used to create this recipe.

I began by browning the bacon, and putting it aside for my next recipe, since I just needed the grease.

I chopped up the red bell pepper

I measured out the bacon grease

The onions are chopped and ready to go

I began the cooking by cooking the onion and garlic.

I added in the green beans, and cooked

them until they tuned bright green

Now, in went the red pepper, chicken broth, salt, and pepper.

I cooked the beans until they were soft, but a little crisp.

I needed the broth to evaporate.

The final dish was quite good.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

What the Beck???

Recipe Review

Today’s Recipe and Location: Chocolate Chunk Zucchini Loaf

Found in: The Pioneer Woman blog

http://thepioneerwoman.com/food-and-friends/chocolate-chunk-zucchini-loaf/

A lot of the newer recipes on Ree’s blog are from her followers. This one is from someone named Jessica.

I figured out that there are 637 calories, if 6 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

I really loved this recipe. I actually made it twice. The second time I adjusted how much of the dark chocolate I put in the recipe. There was not a lot of taste difference, so in the future I will only use 4 oz. instead of eight. This is one bread that I will definitely make again.